Being a Mom

Nora and are are hanging out at home this morning, and I've been doing laundry and housework. Nora is such a busy girl and always in motion. Right now she's coloring pictures that she wants to send to Uncle D and Ayi (her idea). Anyhow, I walked into my bedroom and saw her little lamb laying in my bed with her pink blanket tucked carefully around it. You can't see it in the picture, but there's also a panda bear under the blanket. How cute! She's always taking care of her babies like that.

So...it made me start thinking about how much Nora is learning about families and what they mean. And that made me start thinking about how it's different being a parent now compared to when I was in my twenties. When I was younger and Derrek was little, there was so much to get done and so little time to do it. I worked outside the home, took care of things at home, paid bills, etc. I wish I could go back to that time and spend just a little bit more of it going for walks, reading him stories, and snuggling with him on the couch. He has grown up to be such a great man and I'm so very proud of him and love him so much.

Now, my career has become my family; my nails are never done, my house is not immaculately clean, sometimes the laundry piles up, and some days I don't get around to putting on makeup until shortly before Tony comes home from work. But Nora and I swing on the rope swing in the tree and laugh while we try to make our toes touch the high branches, she "helps" me in the garden, we go for walks down to Granny and Pa's house, and we sometimes spend an entire hour cutting up magazines with scissors. My car is usually not clean, but it's always filled with the sound of children's music and Nora singing along, and I love listening to her say a prayer before she eats her dinner. "Dear God, thank you for food. Amen." My life has never been so full and happy. I can only dream of what it will be like with Negate and Hmsalu here too.

So, here's my prayer..."Dear God, thank you for this life. Amen."